US government investigates Honda over sudden braking

US government investigates Honda over sudden braking

April 2, 2024 Bojan Popic

Washington, D.C. – April 2, 2024 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Honda (NYSE:HMC) whose vehicles that may brake unexpectedly on their own. This ups the risk of a crash and injury. 

If the investigation leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 250,000 vehicles, including: 

  • 2019­ – 2022 Honda Insight
  • 2019 – 2022 Honda Passport

Investigation summary  ­­

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on March 7, citing 46 complaints due to an alleged malfunction of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system.

AEB warns the driver about any oncoming obstacles and applies the brakes on its own if necessary. 

The affected vehicles’ AEB may cause the vehicle to start braking sharply, although there are no visible obstacles in front of it. 

Risks

A vehicle that slams on its brakes without any apparent reason could get rear-ended by other motorists. Furthermore, this sudden and unexpected action may startle and confuse the driver, causing him to lose control of the car. 

In fact, the alleged defect has already resulted in three crashes and two injuries.

Other Honda recalls 

In February 2024, Honda recalled 750,000 cars whose airbags may deploy incorrectly, hurting children. 

On a separate note, some of these Honda Passport SUVs may have been affected by a large-scale recall caused by malfunctioning rearview cameras, as reported.

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

This Honda braking investigation may lead to a Honda brake recall, possibly affecting around 250,000 vehicles. To do a Honda recall check and see if your car is affected by this, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicUS government investigates Honda over sudden braking
Honda recalls 750,000 cars with airbags that may hurt children

Honda recalls 750,000 cars with airbags that may hurt children

February 20, 2024 Joseph Estabillo ,

Torrance, CA – February 20, 2024 – Honda (NYSE:HMC), which also owns the Acura brand, is recalling 750,114 vehicles due to incorrect airbags deploying in a crash, potentially increasing the risk of injury to certain occupants. The recall comes on the back of several thousand warranty claims and covers some of the following vehicles:

  • 2020–2022 Honda Accord
  • 2020–2021 Honda Accord Hybrid
  • 2020–2022 Honda Civic 
  • 2021 Honda Civic Type R
  • 2020–2021 Honda CR-V
  • 2020–2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
  • 2020–2022 Honda Odyssey
  • 2020–2022 Honda Pilot
  • 2020–2021 Honda Ridgeline
  • 2020 Acura MDX
  • 2022 Acura MDX
  • 2020 Acura RDX
  • 2022 Acura RDX

Recall summary  

Cars typically have a sensor on the seats that determines the occupant’s weight and prevents the airbags from deploying if the minimum weight requirement is not met, such as in the case of a child or a person weighing less than 108 lbs.

In the affected cars, the front passenger seat weight sensor “may crack and short-circuit,” allowing the airbag to deploy regardless of the occupant weight. The defect is caused by a supplier error.

The full list of the affected models is available here.

Recall risks

All risks caused by defective front passenger airbags are explained in this article about a similar Tesla recall. 

Warning signs

Users may notice the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) warning light activated on the dashboard, with the passenger airbag indicator turned off.  

Background of the recall

Leading up to the recall, the manufacturer received 3,834 warranty claims. No injuries have been reported.

Other Honda recalls

In July 2023, Honda also issued a recall for almost 1.2 million vehicles on account of a rearview camera issue, as reported.  

In December 2023, the manufacturer recalled Acura, Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline cars that may stall or catch fire, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the seat weight sensor on all affected models with a component that uses the original material. The repairs are free of charge, and Honda will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs prior to the recall..  

Owners will receive letters with more information on March 18, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 750,000 vehicles are affected by this Honda front passenger airbag recall. To do a Honda recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloHonda recalls 750,000 cars with airbags that may hurt children
Honda recalls Acura, Odyssey cars that may stall or catch fire

Honda recalls Acura, Odyssey cars that may stall or catch fire  

December 6, 2023 Bojan Popic ,

Torrance, CA  – December 6, 2023 – Honda (NYSE:HMC), which owns the Acura brand, has recalled 248,999 vehicles that may lose power or burst into flames. Both situations greatly augment the risk of a crash and injury. 

This recall comes on the back of multitudinous warranty claims and affects the following vehicles: 

  • 2016 – 2020 Acura MDX
  • 2015 – 2020 Acura TLX
  • 2018 – 2019 Honda Odyssey 
  • 2018 – 2019 Honda Pilot
  • 2016 Honda Pilot
  • 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  • 2019 Honda Ridgeline

Recall summary  

A car’s engine has many moving components, with bearings between some of them to help reduce friction. In the affected vehicles, an engine’s internal rotating part – called the crankshaft – was not built within design specifications, which can cause the bearing that connects to it to fail. This can result in a stall or a fire caused by a subsequent oil leak.

Honda has listed the whole engine subassembly, with part number 10002-5J2-A00, as the cause of this recall. 

Recall risks

The risk of both fire and stall are described in this article about a recent Mercedes-Benz recall for the same issues.

Warning signs 

The driver may notice abnormal knocking sounds coming from the engine bay and “decreased engine output.” In addition, these issues could also trigger the check engine light on the dashboard.   

Background of the recall

The recall comes on the back of almost 1,500 warranty claims. No injuries or fires have been reported.

Other Honda recalls

Some of these Honda vehicles may have been affected by a recall from July 2023, which was caused by rearview camera issues. 

In the same month, a brake failure prompted the Japanese car maker to recall a batch of their SUVs and pickups.  

The repair

Dealers will check the engine and will either repair or replace it free of charge.

Owners will receive letters with more information around January 2, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost a quarter million cars are affected by this Honda engine stall recall. To do a Honda recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicHonda recalls Acura, Odyssey cars that may stall or catch fire  
Honda recalls vehicles with failing rearview cameras

Honda recalls vehicles with failing rearview cameras 

July 9, 2023 Joseph Estabillo

Torrance, CA  – July 9, 2023 – Honda (NYSE:HMC) is recalling close to 1.2 million vehicles over a problem with the rearview camera display. This ups the risk of a crash, injury or property damage. 

The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2018 – 2023 Honda Odyssey 
  • 2019 – 2023 Honda Passport
  • 2019 – 2022 Honda Pilot

Recall summary  

When the reverse gear is engaged, the dashboard shows a video feed of the vehicle’s rear. That feed is powered by a cable which, due to a supplier error, was improperly designed in the affected vehicles. That may result in poor or lost video feeds.

Recall risks

All risks caused by a defective rearview camera connection are explained in this article about a similar Ford recall.  

Warning signs 

Users may observe “crackling sounds” coming from the audio display unit. The display may also noticeably flicker while in use.  

Other Honda recalls

In December 2022, Honda recalled over 117,000 2017–2019 Ridgeline pickup trucks over a similar issue. 

Just yesterday, there was a Honda Pilot recall due to the risk of brake failure, as reported. The recall also included other vehicles.

The repair

Dealers will replace the cable free of charge.     

Owners will be notified by August 2, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Nearly 1.2 million vehicles are affected by this Honda rearview camera recall. To do a Honda recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloHonda recalls vehicles with failing rearview cameras 
Honda recalls vehicles whose brakes may fail

Honda recalls vehicles whose brakes may fail

July 8, 2023 Bojan Popic ,

Torrance, CA – July 8, 2023 – Honda (NYSE:HMC), which owns the Acura brand, is recalling 124,077 cars whose brakes may fail. This impacts the vehicle’s ability to stop, upping the risk of a crash and injury. 

The list of the affected vehicles includes: 

  • 2020 Acura MDX
  • 2020 – 2021 Honda Civic
  • 2021 – 2023 Honda Passport
  • 2021 – 2022 Honda Pilot
  • 2020 – 2023 Honda Ridgeline

Recall summary  

The brake pedal in a car is powered by the master cylinder, which generates the pressure necessary for the brake to work. The operation of the brake is also helped by a booster, which multiplies the force generated by the driver’s foot, reducing the necessary physical effort. 

In the affected cars, the brake master cylinder was incorrectly bolted to the brake booster. As a result, the two parts may separate, which would “cause the loss of brake function.”

Recall risks

An unexpected loss of brake function would dramatically increase the odds of a crash.

Other Honda recalls

In April 2023, Honda recalled more than half a million CR-V SUVs whose suspensions may detach because of corrosion. 

More than 117,000 Honda Ridgeline pickups were recalled in December 2022 because their rearview cameras failed to display an image, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the booster assembly, if necessary, be free of charge.

Owners will be notified on August 7, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 120,000 cars and light pickup trucks are affected by this Honda failing brakes recall. To do a Honda recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicHonda recalls vehicles whose brakes may fail
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